About us

The retreat is an immersion into the five Dakini families, and the transformation of the five emotions into the five wisdoms. This unique retreat was developed to bring emotional work into alignment with spiritual transformation. It involves exploring the emotions using a variety of means including regression, partner work, art work, sound practice, and movement. Experiencing how these energies contain the potential to become embodied wisdom. You will receive transmission for the Mandala of the Five Dakinis and each day is sandwiched with this profound practice within the mandala which is a blueprint for sacred reality on every level. Ritually, aesthetically, and symbolically the mandala expresses, five energies through the directions, colors, seed syllables, emotions, psychological types, and most importantly the five wisdoms.

"One cannot force or grasp a spiritual experience, because it is as delicate as the whisper of the wind."
Lama Tsultrim Allione.

Venue Highlights

Bordered by the San Juan National Forest and Southern Ute Tribal Land, Tara Mandala Retreat Center is on 700-acres of rolling hills and meadows adorned with many varieties of wildflowers, ponds, and forests. The land itself is a mandala with a stunning peak in the middle surrounded by four valleys. Retreat cabins are scattered across the landscape designed for deep retreat, and at its heart, is the extraordinary three-story Tara temple which celebrates the sacred feminine. The center has a Community Building, where residents and retreatants convene for meals, and other activities.

Amenities

Free Parking

Kitchen

Coffee/Tea

Menu Types

Vegan

Vegetarian

Organic

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

Nut Free

Menu/Cuisine

All meals are delicious, vegetarian, made with all organic ingredients, and served buffet style. Kitchen staff ensure an abundant offering for every meal, in a variety of styles and culinary traditions. We offer tea stations in the Community Building and Temple, with a wide selection of teas and coffee, open 24 hours.

Accommodations

Tara Mandala offers a large residence hall (Prajna Residence Hall) for luxurious accommodations. Rooms have single or double beds. Private or shared bathrooms are available. Toiletries and towels are not supplied, so it is recommended that retreatants please bring their own. Retreatants can stay in one of our two Dorm Yurts. These yurts house 8-10 beds. We also offer a large camp-ground, for those who want to get back to nature for their retreat accommodation. For those who are camping and staying in yurts, showers are available in the Community Building, a short walk away. There are plenty of cubicles in the bathrooms to store your toiletries and personal belongings.

Directions

We are 90 minutes from the La Plata County airport in Durango (DRO) and 4 1/2 hours from the Albuquerque airport. The closest international airport is Denver (DIA). Our retreat land is a 25 minute drive from Pagosa Springs. You are responsible for arranging your own transportation. There are several options for ground transportation including professional shuttle services and rental cars from the airports in Denver, Durango, and Albuquerque. For ground transport from Durango Airport to Tara Mandala, we recommend Wilderness Journeys Pagosa. With this service, group discounts can be arranged for $50 each person, each way. A custom reservation is $100 one-way, $190 round trip. In addition to the options listed, you may be able to share a ride with other retreatants coming from various locations. There is a rideshare group listing to help you facilitate a rideshare at: http://groups.google.com/group/tara-mandala-rideshare.

Lama Tsultrim Allione is an author, internationally known Buddhist teacher, and the founder and resident lama of Tara Mandala Retreat Center, located outside of Durango, CO. She is the author of Women of Wisdom and national bestseller, Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict, which is now translated into seventeen languages, and Wisdom Rising: Journey into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine. Born in New England to an academic and publishing family, Lama Tsultrim traveled to India in her late teens and in 1970, at the age of twenty-two, was ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun by H. H. the Sixteenth Karmapa. After four years living as a nun practicing meditation in the Himalayan region, she returned her monastic vows, married, and raised a family of three children. She has a Master’s degree in Buddhist Studies/Women’s Studies from Antioch University. Her writings and teachings come from her sublime Tibetan lamas as well as her experience as a Western woman and mother. She is known for her ability to translate the wisdom of the ancient Tibetan Buddhist tradition into clear teachings that are relatable and relevant to Western audiences. Lama Tsultrim continues to guide Tara Mandala as the resident lama, and thousands of students around the world. She was named Buddhist Woman of the Year in 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand. For more information on Lama Tsultrim Allione watch a documentary on her life story Feeding Your Demons, bit.ly/FYDdocumentary, and visit the Tara Mandala website, www.taramandala.org.

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Wisdom Rising: Journey into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine | Mandala of the Five Dakinis Retreat

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Why Retreat?

We asked people why they go on retreat, here's what they said:

Balance my life to be mentally and physically healthy.
Dianna

Retreat Guru's Vision

We believe human beings are innately wise, strong and kind. This wisdom, although not always experienced, is always present. Going on retreat is a beautiful way to reconnect to our basic sanity and health. Our aspiration at Retreat Guru is to inspire people to experience authentic retreats and reconnect with their innate wisdom, strength and kindness.